A Pennsylvania politician’s response to the 1869 Avondale Mine Disaster

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In the aftermath of the tragic Avondale Mine Disaster of 1869, which claimed 110 lives, former Congressman Hendrick B. Wright penned a passionate essay in support of mineworkers facing dangerous conditions. Wright’s words reflected the growing public outcry after Avondale, an event that marked a pivotal moment in the labor movement of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Discover how this disaster fueled early efforts toward labor reform and unionization in the Coal Region. Read the full story.

“Only Hoover is Big Enough” – A Lykens newspaper’s editorial on the eve of the 1932 election

Posted on by Jake Wynn

The Lykens Standard voiced support for President Herbert Hoover and called the campaign against him illegitimate.

Stone-throwing and gunfire: A riot at a political meeting in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1860

Posted on by Jake Wynn

In the late summer and autumn of 1860, the looming election sparked heated political rhetoric, marches in support of political causes, and whispered talk of a coming civil war. These feelings manifest themselves in a violent skirmish between Republicans and Democrats on the streets of a Wayne County community on September 28, 1860. The fight in Hawley, which started … Continue reading Stone-throwing and gunfire: A riot at a political meeting in Northeastern Pennsylvania in 1860